Winning The Case for Cool

Without all the frills of a downtown bar or even the convenient location, Magnums Cigar, Wine, and Liquor Emporium is becoming one of Phoenix's hottest hang-outs. The bar, a traditional setting boasting oak with marble inset tables and bar tops, spares no expense to achieve a comfortable and designer setting.

On top of comfort the bar is pleasing to the eye. Incredible artwork and designer posters appropriately line the walls. However, walking into the bar itself present a religious experience for liquor lovers of all kinds. Stocked with micro-brews from all over the world, a respectable gallery of wine, and a shelved bar back full of traditional and exotic liquors no patron will go thirsty.

Without question, the bar staff rivals the best of the best (think Durant's) and ensures a pleasant experience. After just one trip to the bar a return visit was met with a memory of my first visit and a nearly accurate guess at my favorite drink (grey goose martini, dirty, on the rocks).

Enough about the bar, you'll have to check it out to see the rest. Walking into Magnum's you would never know the swanky outfit you are about to enjoy as it is located in a strip mall at 7th street and Union Hills (SE Corner). Upon entrance you recognize the passion with which owner, Amar Patel, approaches his work. A beautifully stocked wine and liquor inventory presents the patron with their regular everyday choice spirits among others for special occasions.

Then, after a quick glance around the place you notice IT, the humidor. Your first visit requires a tour from one of the very capable staff. If Amar is there, ask him to talk you through the many selections offered in his meticulously stocked humidor.

Now you are certainly wondering, what the hell does this have to do with politics? Easy enough to explain, you see, Amar found a loophole in the no-smoking policy set by the ballot initiative a couple years ago. The no-smoking policy is not applicable to businesses reporting more than 50% of its sales are made up by the sale of tobacco and tobacco accessories. By combining two other tobacco-only locations in an LLC Amar was able to establish that his business, which also just so happens to be a bar, meets the 50% threshold.

What does all this mean? Smoking cigars and cigarettes is allowed in Magnum's, the only bar of its kind in all of Arizona.

Democratic Firing Squad

Over the years I've been involved in Democratic politics and, by proximity, involved with the Arizona Democratic Party. I have never been very impressed with its organization of work or ability to prioritize the work of a state Party. The "work" is not too hard to identify: candidate recruitment, beat up Republicans being targeted for the next election, and set up a coordinated campaign. Clearly we're not talking about an exact science here.

However, the Party's structure is delivering a difficult mechanism for decision making and now is becoming responsible for inaction. The state's economy, a Republican leadership willing to make massive cuts to education in the face of polling that says voters will punish them, and endless material for attacks all offer the party the opportunity to damage Republicans seeking re-election next November. Their inaction is a disservice to the state and to the many Arizona voters that call themselves Democrats.

Now, I am not a Democrat and haven't been for around 4 years. I registered "No Party Designated" a number of years ago so that I'd begin receiving mailers from candidates and initiatives seeking to win over the "Independent" vote. Being a young, white male makes me the target of many conservative campaigns. This gives me little room to complain about a Party that I do not belong to and by design am not able to officially influence.

On the other hand, maybe I do have a right to complain a bit about their inability to leverage this situation into big 2010 gains. The Democratic Party not only has the responsibility for supporting candidates whose ideals align with the Party's platform but also to advocate for voter approval of that platform. That means an Independent like me (and 28% of voters in Arizona) are becoming the Party of Persuasion. Those with the best and most consistent message will get our votes.

Without exception, I have never identified with any relevant parts of the Republican Party though they are reaching out to me consistently. This shines a spot-light on the major gap between the message delivery necessary to win over left leaning Independent voters in the next election and the necessity to turn these low efficacy voters out to vote at a high rate in next year's General Election.

No New Tax Pledge -- Sort of...

Childish games of a legislature filled with incompetent leaders has been the cause of incredible discomfort for many communities in Arizona. Today, their actions to sweep funds from school districts who have wisely put away extra cash for tough economic times marks just their next disrespectful act. This legally allowable savings account was responsible for saving jobs and providing resources for students when the very same folks cut school district budgets by millions earlier this year.

Here's the problem for the Republicans that voted with their Party "Leadership" on the legislation; this action will increase property taxes for homeowners. That's right, the folks who took the "No New Tax Pledge" earlier this year have now just violated their oath by passing this law.

Here's how it works: Districts go to the voters to increase property taxes to pay for buildings, new technology, and even higher salaries for employees. When the voters approve these taxes sometimes the district gets more cash than they are constitutionally allowed to spend and they save it for the next year just in case the legislature cuts their budget. If the legislature doesn't cut their budget the money has to be returned to homeowners through a percentage reduction to their tax rate. Guess who's not getting that reduction this year? That's right, you got...you!!!

Now, you know me, I am all for good old fasioned tax increases that fund state government services. I understand their importance in our society and recognize my responsibility to pay taxes for the greater good. But, this sort of under-handed, back-door taxation will leave voters puzzled as to how their property taxes were increased without any notification.

If these legislators don't mind increasing taxes I've got a few I'd like to suggest. How about rolling back tax breaks for corporations who don't employ any Arizona workers? What about rolling back 10% income tax breaks for wealthy Arizonans earning more than $250K per year? And, how about taxing luxuries such as pet grooming and cart fees at your local golf course? These together could increase state revenue by nearly $2 billion.

Go to www.arizonabudgetcoalition.org to learn more about other options to solve the state's deficit.

Hundreds of Teachers to Rally in Deer Valley and Mesa

All across the state of Arizona teachers, support staff, and administrators alike are fearful of loosing their jobs. With more than 7,400 on notice that their jobs will be eliminated if the legislature follows through with massive cuts to education, teachers and other school staff are rallying to save jobs.

This afternoon in Deer Valley folks will gather outside the DVUSD district office to demonstrate contempt for actions they are calling disrespectful. According to those in the district teachers are being let go with privately contracted employees are keeping their jobs, professional growth pay, thousands of dollars promised to teachers, is being withheld, and long-term teachers are being required to re-apply for positions they've held for years.

After scratching the surface just a bit, it becomes clear that the Governing Board President, Tom Boone (R-LD4), is at the heart of this debacle. As a state legislator Boone is positioned well to advocate for no cuts to education protecting district employees from job loss, loss in pay, and other disrespectful acts to their profession. Clearly his conservative idealism is getting in the way.

Across the universe in Mesa, public school employees are holding a vigil for RIFed employees. A vigil for RIFed employees, I had to say it again. Mesa employees enjoy some of the strongest benefits among teachers in the state. But now, with the state legislature attempting to slash nearly 20% of their budget their jobs are at risk.

Over the next few weeks many school employees, parents, and students will be out in mass to protest massive cuts to public schools. Learn more by visiting March4Schools.